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PixelJunk Eden Review (PSN)

PixelJunk Eden is the third game in the PixelJunk universe, with every edition being completely different than the others. Eden, the newest entry, is all about collecting seeds in a psychedelic garden to grow plants to find new ‘Spectra’. The look and concept of the game might not sound so great, but it needs to be played to be completely understood.

As said before, the whole point is to find Spectra. These Spectra are located around 10 massive gardens, five in each one. Once a Spectra is collected, it goes straight to your Eden and starts growing. Getting to them is not always the easiest task though. You’ll be controlling a little Grimp. He’ll need to find pollen to complete seeds, make said seeds grow, and get higher up in the garden.

Controlling your Grimp is made simple. You use the left analog stick to aim where you want to go, press X and let him fly in that direction. If he comes across a plant, he’ll stick to it. By holding down the X button while in mid-air, he’ll spin and go through plants, not landing on them. While on a plant, simply press the X button ( while not aiming) to release a strand of silk. You’ll be able to spin around in a circle to collect pollen or seeds. Spinning on the silk thread also acts as a radar of sorts, telling you which direction the nearest Specrta is located.

The visuals are both psychedelic and relaxing. Everything is 2D and seems to flow nicely. As you progress further into a garden, you might notice the atmosphere getting brighter, and more enemies looking to stop you. The music also plays a significant part in making the atmosphere of the whole game seem more spacey. Unfortunately, you’re not able to relax too much, as there’s a timer constantly counting down–one of the only negatives of the game.

There’s also a multiplayer aspect in Eden. Three players will take control of three different Grimps and explore gardens together. While it’s only local multiplayer, the game gets much easier as everyone can contribute to collecting pollen.

PixelJunk Eden is a game that needs to be played to be fully appreciated. It’s a wonderful addition to the PixelJunk name and is absolutely worth the $9.99 price tag. While challenge is not absent from this game, addiction will reign supreme and you’ll be coming back for more and more.